Snarl (BW)

The name or term "Snarl" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Snarl (disambiguation).

Snarl is a Maximal from the Beast Wars portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

File:IDW Snarl.jpg

Just what the hell do I turn into?

Snarl is an expert at surprise attack. Using a cloaking field, similar to the one employed by Beast Era Ravage, he can vanish at will and infiltrate Predacon strongholds. Snarl enjoys reappearing in a dramatic fashion to startle foe or friend alike. He is a cool and confident warrior, sure of his own abilities and with an independent streak a sector wide.

Snarl is also young and a little impatient. Even when working as part of a group he has the tendency to cloak himself and wander off to pursue their goals in his own fashion. This occasionally annoys his comrades, but usually his impressive results speak for themselves.

Fiction

IDW Beast Wars comics

At least we no longer have to care who the hell he is.

Snarl was one of the protoforms left behind by the crew of the Axalon on prehistoric Earth. He was activated and put in chronal phase by Razorbeast at Magmatron's request, but was protected from Magmatron's Predacon shell-program by a viral code Razorbeast inserted. Coming online in a swampy area, he was one of the first Maximals to hear and respond to Razorbeast's signal.

During the search for the Transwarp Amplifier in Ravage's crashed ship, he used his stealth ability to save Optimus Minor from Drill Bit. The Gathering issue 2

Hyperactive he may be, but Snarl is also a technical wizard. He put together a communications device using the amplifier and reverse-engineered technology from the Ark The Gathering issue 3 and managed to send off a brief distress call to Cybertron - he bravely did this last part even when under heavy fire from the Predacons. The Gathering issue 4

He served as a distraction, allowing Razorbeast to get the upper hand on Ravage when the cat tried to steal the chronal-phase facilitator. The Ascending issue 1

And Snarl totally saved the day in the battle against Shokaract, his invisibility powers allowing him and Prowl II to reach the monster and place a chronal phase facilitator on him. The Ascending issue 4

Toys

Beast Wars

• Snarl (Basic, 1997)

Snarl transforms into a large "tasmanian devil" (the resemblance to the real thing being vague at best). By holding the toy by its tail in beast mode and pulling the trigger, his body leaps forward in a spring-loaded lunging attack. Or at least, it's supposed to — the spring is so weak that on any surface other than a smooth table or counter-top, you're lucky if the figure even clears the end of the launcher. In robot mode, the tail becomes an arm-mounted (non-firing) blaster cannon.

A virtually identical version of the toy was sold by Takara as Beast Wars II Tasmania Kid. This mold is also used by Robot Masters Bound Rogue.

• More information on Snarl at TFU.info

Notes

• As alluded to in other parts of this entry, Snarl does not actually closely resemble a Tasmanian devil. In fact there is some fan speculation that he is actually based on the Tasmanian spotted quoll (the world's second-largest marsupial predator, after the Tassie devil), sharing as he does their bushy tail and brown colouration. There are problems with this identification as well, most obviously that Snarl is striped instead of spotted.
• In Germany, Snarl's toy was released under a special promotion of Hasbro products; each of Hasbro's toy lines had a toy only available under this promotion for the bargain price of 5 Deutsche Mark (half of what a basic cost back then). Unsurprisingly, he flew off the shelves.

Foreign names

• French: Grondeur (Canada, "Growler")
• Italian: Diablo
• Spanish: Gruñón